Category Purchasing Manager

We have multiple openinigs for Category Purchasing Managers.

This position will be the team leader for managing availability, purchasing, supplier performance management and operational excellence across a group category of Grainger's supplier base.

The Main responsibilities of the position include:
Drive Improvements in Supplier Performance and the Inbound Replenishment Process to drive Availability and Perfect Inbound Orders
o Supplier On-Time Shipping
o Transactional quality (transportation, product control issues)
o Goods Receipt / Invoice Receipt (GRIR)
o Reduce Cycle Time & Variability across the processes

Improve Availability Performance of the Category
o Deliver on the target availability and inventory plan.
o Order to the optimal deployment plan defined by network planning group.
o Direct exception based action that fine-tunes the inventory plan at the supplier level to achieve Service Level targets.
o Identify and deliver cost and productivity improvements through more efficient ordering (lot sizes).
o Reduce replenishment cycle time and variability to improve availability and supply chain responsiveness.
o Manage Open Order Process: expedite, system communication
o Manage process for preventing stock outs and responding faster to demand (generating purchases as needed, collaborating with planning group on inventory adjustments).
o Manage seasonal item performance at the supplier level.

Order To Plan
o Ensure effective order process: order requisition review.
o Manage the large order exception process.

Manage Life Cycle of Inventory
o Manage New Item Addition process effectively.
o Improve availability of new items and adjust during ramp up.
o Manage Item Discontinuation process effectively.
o Reduce excess / obsolete inventory.
o Ensure proper communication is being generated for items being
discontinued or for items experiencing availability problems.

Collaborate with Product Management on Supplier Selection and Supplier Management
o Provide evaluation of new suppliers' capabilities during line review or expansion opportunities.
o Ensure new suppliers are ready to perform.
o Drive enhancements to the Supplier Scorecard and Supplier Management process.
o Work with product management to find new sources of supply for suppliers who are not performing




Bachelors degree; degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management preferred; MBA preferred.

5-10 years of experience in purchasing/sourcing/inventory management and/or managing external supplier relationships in a supply chain driven organization.

Skills
a.Leadership and results
b.Functional expertise in Inventory Mgmt / Supply Chain
c.Communication and Cross Functional Collaboration
d.Problem Solving; Business Acumen
e.Initiative and ability to identify, prioritize, build plans and get things done.
f.Relationship Building


Decisions
a.Hiring decisions
b.Resource allocation decisions
c.Decisions that effect how much and when we order from suppliers.
d.Decisions that effect supplier relationships, inbound flow of product (DC operations) and our ability to deliver to the customer.
e.Decisions to invest time and resources on both sustaining activity and opportunities for improvement.
f.Large purchase order approvals.
g.Major exceptions to the inventory plan.
h.Decisions on core processes and policy to our inbound processes (PO to Ship + In-Transit + Receipt).

Scope
a.Affects others across the company and externally.
b.Suppliers, DC Operations, Customers, Field Operations, Transportation, Product Management

Manages a team of approximately 10-12
Approximately $1M in payroll expenses
Team is responsible for managing 300-400 suppliers; 1million+ lines of product shipped into the network; overall purchasing base of about $1 billion.



Grainger is a Fortune 500 company and the leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions throughout North America with sales of over $5 billion. Through its network of nearly 600 branches, large distribution network and multiple Web sites, Grainger helps customers save time and money by providing them with the right products to keep their facilities running.

If interested, please apply online at